ERBIL - A reception was held by the Chinese Consulate in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Addressing the reception, Chinese Consul-General Ni Ruchi said that China has a traditional friendship with Iraq and its Kurdistan region.

He said that the recent official visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to China "will bring tangible benefit to the Iraqi people including the people from the Kurdistan region."

Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the semi-autonomous region, senior officials and foreign diplomats attended the reception.

Addressing the reception, Safeen Dizayee, spokesperson of Kurdistan Regional Government, said the Kurdish people can learn a lot from the Chinese experience, such as the reform and opening-up policy.

Dizayee expressed his hope that the Kurdish region can benefit from the mega-projects that would be implemented under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The reception also included an exhibition of Chinese books and pictures about the achievements during the past 70 years, in addition to Chinese and Kurdish folkloric performances.